Bella + Canvas vs. Alo: Which brand should you buy?

Bella + Canvas is known for its high-quality, fashion-forward basics and blank apparel designed for the custom printing and wholesale markets. In contrast, Alo is a premium athleisure brand that creates stylish, high-performance activewear for the retail consumer. The core differences lie in their target audience, price point, and product focus, with Bella + Canvas offering affordable basics and Alo specializing in luxury workout apparel.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right brand for you.

Bella + Canvas: Premium Basics for Customization & Comfort

Bella + Canvas has built its reputation on producing incredibly soft, impeccably fitting blank apparel that feels more like a fashion staple than a promotional item. The brand targets small businesses, screen printers, and anyone looking for a superior quality t-shirt, hoodie, or tank top for customization. Their focus on eco-friendly manufacturing, advanced fabrics, and modern silhouettes sets them apart in the wholesale world.

• Product mix: Their lineup is centered on premium basics, including t-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, long sleeves, and hoodies in a wide array of colors. Products are designed to be the perfect "canvas" for printing and branding.
• Price point: Bella + Canvas offers an accessible mid-range price, with individual retail t-shirts typically ranging from $10-$15. Wholesale pricing provides significant discounts for bulk orders.
• Quality & Materials: The brand is famous for its use of Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a process that removes impurities to create a softer, more durable fabric. They also incorporate eco-friendly materials like recycled polyester.
• Sizing/Fit: Garments generally run true to size with a modern, fashion-forward fit that's more tailored than traditional boxy t-shirts. They offer a comprehensive size range from XS to 3XL, ensuring a consistent fit suitable for a wide audience.
• Sustainability: This is a core part of the brand's identity. Bella + Canvas uses eco-friendly dyeing processes that use significantly less water and champions ethical, USA-based manufacturing.

Bella + Canvas is the go-to choice for premium blank apparel that's soft on the skin, sustainable, and well-suited for a customized look.

Shop Bella + Canvas: bellacanvas.com

Alo: Luxury Athleisure for Studio & Street

Alo is synonymous with the "studio-to-street" lifestyle, creating high-end activewear that bridges the gap between performance and fashion. The brand is a favorite among yogis, fitness enthusiasts, and celebrities for its on-trend designs, luxurious feel, and technical fabrics. Alo's target customer is willing to invest in premium apparel that looks as good running errands as it does in a yoga class.

• Product mix: Alo offers complete activewear outfits, including their famous leggings, sports bras, crop tops, tanks, hoodies, and jackets. Their collections are cohesive and trend-driven, featuring matching sets and seasonal colorways.
• Price point: As a luxury brand, Alo's prices are significantly higher. Leggings cost between $80-$120, sports bras range from $50-$70, and hoodies are often over $100.
• Quality & Materials: The focus is on high-performance, technical fabrics with features like four-way stretch, moisture-wicking properties, and odor resistance. Materials like their signature Airbrush and Airlift fabrics are engineered for a flattering fit and excellent support during workouts.
• Sizing/Fit: Alo apparel is designed for a tailored, form-fitting silhouette that hugs the body. Sizing is generally true to size but is intended to be compressive and flattering.
• Style & Aesthetic: The look is sleek, modern, and minimalist with a fashion-forward edge. Alo incorporates details like unique seam work, mesh panels, and contemporary cuts to elevate their designs.

Alo provides a high-performance studio feel with chic, fashionable athleisure pieces that work well beyond your typical workout routine.

Shop Alo: alo-yoga.com

Bella + Canvas vs. Alo Comparison

Price Comparison

There's a significant price difference between the two brands that reflects their distinct markets. Bella + Canvas is built on affordability and value, especially for bulk purchases, making it a favorite for businesses and budget-conscious individuals seeking premium basics.

Alo operates in the luxury activewear space. Its prices are comparable to other high-end athleisure brands like Lululemon, justifying the cost with advanced technical fabrics, detailed construction, and a strong brand image. For a single hoodie, you could buy a dozen shirts from Bella + Canvas.

Quality & Materials

Both brands prioritize quality, but for different purposes. Bella + Canvas excels in creating exceptionally soft and comfortable casual wear. Their combed and ring-spun cotton is breathable, durable, and ideal for everyday use and customization.

Alo’s quality lies in its technical innovation. The fabrics are engineered to perform during physical activity - they stretch, support, wick sweat, and retain their shape. The materials feel substantial and compressive, a marked contrast to the lightweight, relaxed feel of Bella + Canvas apparel.

Product Selection & Style

Bella + Canvas offers a broad catalog of closet basics in a massive range of colors. The style is deliberately minimalist and classic, making their items versatile and timeless. The primary function is to serve as a high-quality base for other designs or to act as a simple, standalone piece.

Alo, on the other hand, sells a highly curated vision of the modern active-fashion lifestyle. Their collections are trend-driven, featuring fashion-forward silhouettes, matching sets, and seasonal colors meant to be worn as a complete look. While you can find basics, each piece is designed with a distinct "Alo" aesthetic.

Fit & Sizing

Bella + Canvas caters to a wide audience with a standard, true-to-size fit. Their styles are contemporary but generally offer a more relaxed silhouette compared to performance wear, making sizing easy and reliable for bulk ordering and general public consumption.

Alo's fit is tailored, compressive, and body-hugging. It’s designed to flatter the body's shape and provide support during movement. While it runs true to size, the intention is a second-skin feel, which may feel more constrictive to those accustomed to casual wear.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands show a commitment to ethical practices, but it is a much more central part of Bella + Canvas’s identity. They have built their brand around eco-conscious manufacturing, using less water, reducing waste, and operating out of fair-labor facilities. Their transparency around these practices is a key selling point.

Alo also has sustainability initiatives and uses some eco-friendly fabrics. However, its brand messaging focuses more heavily on fashion, wellness, and performance. For shoppers making a decision based purely on environmental and ethical bona fides, Bella + Canvas has a stronger and more established track record.

Which One Should You Choose?

Your choice depends almost entirely on what you're looking for, as these brands serve very different needs.

Choose Bella + Canvas if:

• You run a small business, screen printing company, or team that needs high-quality blank apparel for customization.
• You're shopping on a budget and want super soft, comfortable, and well-fitting everyday basics like t-shirts and hoodies.
• Sustainability, USA manufacturing, and eco-friendly practices are your top priorities in a clothing brand.
• You prefer a classic, versatile style with a comfortable, true-to-size fit.

Choose Alo if:

• You need high-performance activewear for activities like yoga, pilates, or gym workouts.
• You're looking for trendy, fashionable athleisure that you can wear from the studio to the street.
• You're willing to invest in premium, technical fabrics and a compressive, body-flattering fit.
• You want to buy complete, stylish outfits and matching sets from a cohesive luxury brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bella + Canvas or Alo cheaper?

Bella + Canvas is significantly cheaper. It targets the wholesale and affordable basics market with t-shirts often under $15, while Alo is a premium brand with leggings priced over $100.

What is Bella + Canvas known for?

Bella + Canvas is known for its exceptionally soft, Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton t-shirts and fleece. It's a top choice in the blank apparel industry for its fashion-forward fits and commitment to eco-friendly, American manufacturing.

What is Alo known for?

Alo is famous for its luxury activewear that combines performance with a high-fashion aesthetic. It's particularly known for its flattering leggings, stylish matching sets, and its popularity among celebrities and fitness influencers.

Which brand is better for workouts?

Alo is explicitly designed for workouts and high-performance activity. Its technical fabrics offer moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, and supportive compression that Bella + Canvas's casual cotton apparel does not provide.

Is Bella + Canvas good quality?

Yes, Bella + Canvas is considered a premium quality brand within the blank apparel market. Its fabrics are softer, more durable, and less likely to shrink than standard, lower-cost alternatives.

Does Alo sizing run small?

Alo generally runs true to its size chart, but its clothing is designed for a very close, compressive fit. If you are between sizes or prefer a bit more breathing room, you may consider sizing up for comfort.

Can I buy a single shirt from Bella + Canvas?

Yes. While Bella + Canvas is primarily a wholesale business, you can purchase single items from them or through partner websites and other authorized online distributors.

Which brand is more sustainable?

Bella + Canvas has made sustainability a central component of its brand identity, with an extensive list of eco-friendly and ethical practices they openly and proudly share with the public. Alo has taken several noteworthy steps toward sustainability as a brand, however, its primary focus remains rooted in luxury, performance, and the latest fashion trends.